Page 44 of A Different Impression

When they emerged from the tea shop, Elizabeth nearly collided with Georgiana and Kitty as the two girls stopped without warning. She heard Georgiana whisper her brother’s name, the panic in her voice unmistakable. Beside Elizabeth, William went rigid. Following their gazes, she saw a handsome young man standing with one of the militia officers.

“Wickham,” William muttered, his voice taut with anger.

He started towards the man, but Elizabeth caught his arm firmly.

“I do not mean to prevent you from acting, sir, but ought we to be worried?” she whispered. “Should we return to Longbourn at once?”

William stopped and drew a deep breath. “Georgie, come here,” he said firmly, not answering Elizabeth immediately. He placed one hand over Elizabeth’s before continuing. “There is no immediate danger, dearest—not here in public. Do you remember what I told you about the man who attempted to persuade Georgiana to elope?”

At Elizabeth’s nod, he continued. “The man standing over there is responsible for it. There is more I must tell you, but this is neither the time nor the place. Let us return to Longbourn. Georgie, Elizabeth, remain close to me until we are safely home.”

Georgiana and Elizabeth each took one of William’s arms. Without asking for an explanation, Mr Bingley offered his arms to Jane and Kitty, and the party immediately set out for Longbourn.

Once they had put some distance between themselves and Meryton, Georgiana rejoined Kitty at the front of the party. Jane and Mr Bingley followed, allowing Elizabeth and William to fall slightly behind the others.

“Elizabeth, the man we saw is George Wickham—the son of my father’s steward whom I told you attempted to persuade Georgiana to elope with him. What I did not tell you was why he did it. Georgiana has a dowry of thirty thousand pounds, and Wickham intended to obtain it through marriage. He also wished to revenge himself upon me. I arrived before they could depart and compelled him to leave. I warned him that if he ever approached Georgiana again or attempted to injure her reputation, I would use the debts I hold against him to have him imprisoned.”

Elizabeth glanced towards Georgiana, horrified by what her young friend had endured. “Is he dangerous in other ways?”

“He is. We must speak to your father so that he can warn others to guard their daughters while the militia remains in the neighbourhood,” William replied gravely. “Wickham is not the only danger. My cousin has told me far too many stories of the harm militia units have caused in the places where they were encamped.”

Elizabeth grimaced. “I am thankful Lydia has been sent to school—and that Kitty has learnt to follow a better example.”

After a moment, she asked, “Did Mr Wickham see you in Meryton? If he learns of our engagement, will it encourage him to leave—or give him a reason to remain?”

“I do not know. I shall send someone to enquire of Colonel Forster whether Wickham has enlisted. If he has, I shall send an express to Richard. He will be very interested to learn where Wickham is.” William paused, his gaze settling upon Elizabeth. “Dearest, until Wickham has been dealt with, I must ask you not to walk out unless I or another trustworthy escort accompanies you. Kitty may preserve propriety, but she could do little to protect you if Wickham intended harm.”

Elizabeth reached up to caress his cheek. “We have only a fortnight remaining until we wed, William. I shall not walk out unless you or another suitable escort accompanies me, and I will forgo my usual rambles for the present.”

He brought her hand to his lips. “Thank you, dearest. I cannot imagine what I would do if something happened to you. I love you so dearly.”

“I love you as well, William,” she replied before adding with an arch smile, “I would not forgo my walks for any other reason.”

William laughed, precisely as Elizabeth had intended. Upon reaching Longbourn, she watched him go directly to her father’s study. She knew he intended to warn her father about Wickham and the dangers posed by the militia. Several minutes later, William and her father joined the others in the drawing room.

Once everyone had been served tea, William warned the ladies to be cautious around the militia officers, particularly Mr Wickham, although he carefully avoided revealing Georgiana’s history. At her father’s direction, a servant was sent to determine whether Wickham had enlisted. William prepared a letter to his cousin while they waited, and her father then returned to his study to await the servant’s report.

After the general conversation ended, those present separated into smaller groups. Elizabeth and William sat together and spoke quietly of their plans for after the wedding. They intended to spend a brief wedding trip in London before beginning the longer journey to Pemberley, where they hoped to arrive no later than the fifteenth of December. Lord and Lady Matlock would bring Georgiana and Kitty to Derbyshire by the twenty-second and remain to celebrate Christmas with them.

Across the room, Jane and Mr Bingley conversed together. Elizabeth noticed her sister looking towards her and William several times, a faint crease appearing between her brows. She wondered what occupied Jane’s thoughts and resolved to seek her out once they were alone.

Mary, Kitty, and Georgiana soon withdrew to the music room after Kitty expressed an interest in learning to play the pianoforte. Before long, the hesitant notes of a beginner’s exercise drifted into the drawing room.

Some time later, Elizabeth’s father entered and announced that Colonel Forster had confirmed Mr Wickham’s enlistment. William immediately completed the letter he had prepared and sent it by express to Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Beside her, William immediately grew tense. He spoke further with her father about the danger Wickham might pose, but Elizabeth could see that the news had unsettled him.

“Perhaps we ought to join the girls in the music room,” she suggested, hoping the diversion might draw his thoughts away from Wickham. “I believe Kitty’s first lesson deserves an audience.”

William gave her a faint smile and offered his arm.

When they entered the music room, Elizabeth found Kitty seated at the instrument with Mary on one side and Georgiana on the other. Georgiana demonstrated the proper position of Kitty’s hands while Mary patiently explained the notes before her.

Elizabeth had noticed a considerable improvement in Mary’s playing since her sister had begun choosing less ponderous pieces and attempting to play with greater feeling. Mary had admitted that her former difficulties were partly due to her unwillingness to accept advice. Now, Elizabeth was pleased to see her listening closely whenever Georgiana offered a suggestion. Kitty was evidently not the only sister benefiting from the lesson.

The diversion proved moderately successful. William joined in the conversation and applauded Kitty’s earliest efforts, although Elizabeth noticed him growing quiet at intervals as the evening progressed. He, Georgiana, and Mr Bingley remained for dinner before finally returning to Netherfield late that evening.

CHAPTER 19